Capernaum

The ABC's of Capernaum

C – Capernaum was the center of Jesus’s ministry in the Galilee. According to Matthew, Jesus left Nazareth and settled in Capernaum after the arrest of John the Baptist (Matthew 4:12-13).

A – Andrew, Simon Peter, James and John were all fisherman in Capernaum when Jesus called them to be “fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:18-22)

P – Jesus preached and proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom of God throughout the Galilee from his home base in Capernaum (Matthew 4:17, 23). 

E – Excavations at Capernaum have uncovered remains of two synagogues, one dating to the time of Jesus. In addition, excavations uncovered a house believed to be the house of Peter.

R – A Roman centurion whose servant was sick sent men to Jesus to ask him to come and heal his servant. Jesus said of the centurion “not even in Israel have I found such great faith” (Luke 7:1-10). Also according to Luke, it was this centurion who built the synagogue in Capernaum.

N – Capernaum is located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. (See Matthew 4:12-16.)

A – The disciples argued amongst themselves about who was the greatest among them. It was in Capernaum that Jesus questioned them about what they were discussing and taught them that “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:30-37).

U – Unbelief in Jesus even though he had performed many miracles there caused Jesus to curse the city of Capernaum (Matthew 11:23).

M – The miracles Jesus performed in Capernaum include healing a paralytic whose friends lowered him through the roof of the house in which Jesus was teaching (Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26), healing Peter’s mother-in-law of a high fever (Luke 4:38-39) and commanding an unclean spirit to come out of a man (Luke 4:31-36).